If you feel déjà vu about the world’s current geo-political and socio-economic situations, your senses aren’t too far from the truth. Take the 1910s for example: the world was in the middle of a massive industrial revolution, with factories mechanising at a blinding pace, and the fabric of society undergoing deeply fundamental changes. These changes were soon followed by the global-scale destructions of World War I, and the horrendous outbreak of Spanish Influenza. And then of course, there was The Great Depression of the 1930s, itself a precursor to World War II. Clearly, as geo-politics shift, socio-economic cycles come and go, and the rules of the game change accordingly. Davis Cook makes the point that while today’s challenges aren’t a carbon copy of the past, they aren’t fundamentally different either. The lessons of history are clear and open. With the world entering another period of great upheaval, the situation is ripe for a new set of rules. And, given Africa’s current position in the world, and the enormous volume of resources that the continent controls, Africans are well positioned to reset the game in their own favour.
